NTCA hosted a grassroots advocacy fly-in May 19 focused exclusively on video issues.
During the trip to Washington, members met with FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly, legal advisers to Chairman Tom Wheeler and Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Mignon Clyburn, as well as representatives from the Media Bureau. In addition, NTCA members traveled to Capitol Hill, where they met with congressional leaders and committee members with jurisdiction over video issues.
The group discussed the commission’s set-top box proposal, as well as proposals to address the totality of the circumstances test and the obligation of broadcasters and multichannel video programming distributors to negotiate retransmission consent agreements in good faith.
Fly-in participants were Trent Boaldin, president of EPICTOUCH (Elkhart, Kan., and Oklahoma City, Okla.); Susan Boaldin, executive assistant for EPICTOUCH; Tim Brinkman, general manager of Garden Valley Telephone Co. (Erskine, Minn.); Toni Rivas, senior manager of sales & marketing for VTX1 Cos. (Raymondville, Texas); and Scott Warunek, senior product manager for VTX1 Cos. (Raymondville, Texas).
NTCA provides members with advocacy services such as fly-ins throughout the year. Upcoming fly-ins are scheduled for June 9, July 14, October 20 and December 13. To participate in an event, email ga@ntca.org.